An assortment of educational guides and more!

Unique Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale, FL

May 4th, 2017 Leland

Fort Lauderdale’s sunny beaches make it an ideal vacation destination for anyone looking to go somewhere warm. If you like to travel, but get bored laying on the beach, Fort Lauderdale isn’t just beaches. Take a look at some of the most unique things to do near this Sunshine State’s tourism city.

Flamingo Gardens Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in Davie, FL, the beautiful sanctuary is a short 20-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale. The sanctuary is home to injured and non-releasable animals that are native to Florida. This includes otters, panthers, alligators, bears, eagles, and of course, flamingos! The property sits on 60 acres of botanical gardens which you can also explore during your visit. You can see the largest Champion Tree in Florida during a brisk walk on your way to the flower gardens where you’ll see butterflies and hummingbirds getting a snack. Stop by the Wray House museum on your way out and get a taste of South Florida life in the 1930s.

Buehler Planetarium & Observatory

Also located in Davie, FL on Broward College’s campus, the planetarium is a must see for science lovers. If you’re in town on a Wednesday night, they have evening observation hours every Wednesday from 7-10 p.m. to enjoy the Florida night sky. The planetarium just went under a renovation to make their sky shows even better.

Florida Swap Shop

This enormous indoor flea market features thousands of vendors and 80 acres of food and shopping. The swap shop is open seven days a week, and that includes holidays. Visitors love buying fresh Florida produce and perusing antique vendors. The Swap Shop also has a drive-in movie theater and features current movies, but with a nostalgic drive-in feel.

Fort Lauderdale Ghost Tours

Led by John Carr, who wrote Haunted Fort Lauderdale, the tour shows you Fort Lauderdale’s historic and haunted spots. The tour takes you via Sun Trolley down the Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk and covers 10 blocks of haunted locations and then via water taxi out on the water. One location includes the Stranahan House which is said to be haunted by the Stranahan family who lived there in the late 1800s.

Mermaids at Wreck Bar

Located in the B Ocean Resort, the Wreck Bar offers food, drinks, and mermaid performances. The world famous bar has portholes where you can peek into the resort pool and see mermaids swimming. Every Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., you can see the mermaid MeduSirena perform and an adult only show at 9:30 p.m.

While you enjoy the beaches, check out these other interesting things to do during your Fort Lauderdale trip. Fort Lauderdale vacation rentals are the perfect place to stay if you want your vacation to feel like home.